FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Dopethrone (Montréal, Québec)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 25/05/2018

Label: Totem Cat Records

Dopethrone are the most consistent band in the genre, and this record further cements their legacy as one of the greats.

“Transcanadian Anger” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Planet Meth

2). Wrong Sabbath

3). Killdozer

4). Scuzzgasm

5). Tweakjabber

6). Snort Dagger

7). Killbilly Krush

8). Miserablist

The Review:

Dopethrone is a no frills stoner metal band that has nothing to hide.  “Transcanadian Anger” is everything you want to hear from the band, only further refined.  With each new release, Dopethrone further solidify themselves as the Mötorhead of their genre. “Transcanadian Anger” is all substance, and no bullshit.

Dopethrone slithers out of the gate with “Planet Meth” and “Wrong Sabbath”.  These bluesy riffs are the sonic equivalent of drowning in a vat of tar; a syrupy heavy tone only made possible by Dopethrone.   The miasma of thick sludge kicks into high gear with “Killdozer” and “Scuzzgasm”. These four tracks showcase Dopethrone’s ability to create such diverse music within their brand of stoner/sludge metal.

The overall production on this record exemplifies the band’s strengths; full of lush textures, and really pushing the low end tones to the forefront of the listening experience. Even though the vocals seem quite low in the mix, they have this ominous quality to them that work perfectly in creating the soundscape that Dopethrone aspires to.

“Transcanadian Anger” is must have stoner/sludge metal record, but the listeners already knew that. Dopethrone are the most consistent band in the genre, and this record further cements their legacy as one of the greats.

“Transcanadian Anger” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Tunguska Mammoth (Montreal, Québec)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 11/05/2018

Label: Deathbound Records

If you dig riff-centric music interspersed with triumphant vocal harmonies, this record is for you.

“Breathless” CD//DD track listing:

1. Breathless

2. Kings And Queens

3. Phénix

4. The Yellow Sign

5. New Sun

6. Le Vent

7. Lily (feat. Jared Collins)

8. We are the Night

The Review:

Tunguska Mammoth return with their new full length “Breathless”. The album is a riff-heavy nod to bands such as Beastwars and Mastodon. If you dig riff-centric metal music interspersed with triumphant vocal harmonies, this record is for you. 

The album opens with a trio of bangers in “Breathless”, “Kings and Queens” and “Phénix”. All the songs are riff-focused, but not over the top to the point of self-indulgent.  The amount of restraint witnessed showcases the band’s collective ability of performing as a unit, and serving what is best for the song.  It is nice to see the band’s French Canadian roots showcased on the record.  Songs like “Le Vent” that are sung in both French and add subtle nuance that few Canadian bands are able to utilize.

The album’s apex comes on “New Sun”. The song is a demolition of riffs and incorporates a melody that would feel right at home on a Torche record.  Overall, if you’re looking for a record that is tasteful and well-balanced, Tunguska Mammoth’s new record “Breathless” is ground zero.

“Breathless” is available here

Band info: Facebook | Bandcamp

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Hashteroid [Vancouver, British Columbia]

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 20/04/2018

Label: Independent

Hashteroid’s self titled album is truly one of the most enjoyable experiences one can have from heavy music in 2018.

“Hashteroid” DD track listing:

1). Freak Power

2). Black Tide

3). Stan the Wolfman

4). Green Caramel

5). Godspeed Below

6). Cool Ghost

7). ...Return to Hash Planet

The Review:

From the outset, Hashteroid’s self titled record seems like an average stoner metal experience. From the album’s artwork aesthetic, to the band’s implied interests in psychedelics, the listener gears themselves for another exercise in Sleep worship. Once the music starts however, all of these pre-conceived notions are gone. From the sheer speed, guitar solos, and focus on song melody, “Hashteroid” is an experience impossible to pin down to one genre. “Hashteroid” is an album that is forward thinking, but packs enough nostalgia to speak to die hard Mötorhead fans. If you’re looking for a truly unique experience in heavy music, look no further than “Hashteroid”, it is abundantly filled with riffs of all kinds. From the thundering rock and roll of “Freak Power” and “Godspeed Below”, to the doomier “Stan the Wolfman” and “Cool Ghost”, there is something for everyone. Each track transitions between multiple riffs, constantly keeping the listener on its toes.

None of this would be work, however, if it weren’t for great song writing by the band as a whole. The band has a great understanding of how to utilize pace, and how to properly incorporate guitar effects. Songs like “Godspeed Below” are elevated with the bands ability to incorporate small subtleties throughout.  Hashteroid’s debut record breathes new life into heavy music, while at the same time striking the right amount of nostalgia listeners love from retro metal. Hashteroid’s self titled album is truly one of the most enjoyable experiences one can have from heavy music in 2018.

“Hashteroid” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riff of Canada with Holy Grinder (Toronto, Ontario)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 02/03/2018

Label: Independent

 This is a modern grind record that doesn’t overstay its welcome, and is a step forward in an often stagnant metal subgenre.

“Cult of Extermination” DD track listing:

1). Bootlicker (1:03)

2). Tomb of Disgust (1:56)

3). Bile Overdose (0:34)

4). End Terror (0:45)

5). Infinite Knife (0:26)

6). Secret Scum (1:14)

7). Violent Death (0:39)

8). Grave Dog (0:29)

9). Noise V (0:42)

10). Cult of Extermination (2:52)

11). False Grinder (2:26)

The Review:

Holy Grinder’s debut record, “Cult of Extermination”, is a welcome addition into the world of grindcore. With its incorporation of death metal, industrial music and noise, “Cult of Extermination” is a new classic in the canon of grindcore.

The album wastes no time in getting into the blasts beats with “Tomb of Disgust” and “Bile Overdose”. From there, the record jumps element to element, and employs something new once the listener gets comfortable in a particular sound. Whether it is the technical bass leads of “Infinite Knife” and “Grave Dog”, to the strangled noise of “Noise V” and “Secret Scum”, or the industrial hardcore vibes on “Cult of Extermination”, the listener is never quite sure what to expect from Holy Grinder.

On the surface, this is a raw as hell grindcore record that references many of the genre’s forefathers, but has so many nuances to it after multiple listens. This is a modern grind record that doesn’t overstay its welcome, and is a step forward in an often stagnant metal subgenre.

“Cult of Extermination” is available here

Band info: Bandcamp || facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Wake [Calgary, Alberta]

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 23/02/2018

Label: Translation Loss

“Misery Rites” is a standout contemporary extreme metal record one of the most punishing heavy music albums of the year so far.

“Misery Rites” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Exhumation

2). Misery Rites

3). Embers

4). Rot

5). Paradigm Rot

6). Exile

7). Rumination

8). Bitter Winter

9). Burial Ground

The Review:

Canada’s most complex grindcore band returns with “Misery Rites”. Taking a lot of what the band had previously done on “Sowing the Seeds of a Worthless Tomorrow”, and further pushing elements of black and death metal. The album is one of the most punishing heavy music albums of the year so far.

From the very start, the record opens on a different path. The sludge riffs on “Exhumation” would make Primitive Man proud. In true grind fashion, however, the album is still full of blast-beats. They are interspersed with moments of dissonant death metal riffage; “Paradigm Lost” and “Exile” utilize this structure in a way that make the heaviest moments stand out. This band really excels at building peaks and valleys in its music for the listener.

Drummer Josh Bueckert really stands out on this record. The drum patterns create a lot of surprising twists and turns. The continual motion on tracks like “Burial Ground” showcase a variety in drum patterns rarely heard in heavy music. “Misery Rites” is a standout contemporary extreme metal record that sees this band moving further into other forms of heavy music, and finding their unique sound

“Misery Rites” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Greber [Cambridge, Ontario]

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 20/02/2018

Label: Pink Lemonade Records (CD) |

Hibernation Release (CS) |

Ancient Temple Recordings  |

D7I Records | No Way Records (LP)

Greber’s pursuit of intricate heavy music pays off immensely, creating a consuming sonic experience. “Cemetery Preston” will be one of the most unique and layered experiences of this year.

“Cemetery Preston” CS//CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Backhanded Interest
2. The Wreckers
3. Prophetic
4. By Any Other Way
5. Overdraft
6. Our Burnt Treasures
7. Grave Plot
8. No One But You
9. The Closer We Got

The Review:

The sludge/grind two-piece Greber return with their new record “Cemetery Preston” and the long awaited follow up to “Kiln Hardened Psalms” showcases that the band has not lost any of its aggression with heavy music. Bassist Marc Bourgon’s tone has a chainsaw like quality to it. This tone, when mixed with drummer Steve Vargas’s unorthodox style of drumming, creates a consuming sonic experience not easily replicated.

This album flexes its efficiency through a variety of dynamics and stylistic elements; never relying on the same methods to get their point across. From the isolated bass tracks on “Prophetic” and “Overdraft”, to sequences where the drums carry the melody in “Grave Plot” and “Wreckers”, Greber have a variety of tools at their disposal. This keeps the listener engaged as the album goes through these continual peaks and valleys of emotion. It would be very easy for the band to become a plodding doom band, but have instead chosen a more nuanced approach regardless of the few elements at their disposal.

Greber’s pursuit of intricate heavy music pays off immensely. “Cemetery Preston” will be one of the most unique and layered experiences of this year.

“Cemetery Preston” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with The Weir (Calgary, Alberta)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 03/12/2017

Label: Sunmask Records

Even though the band's sound is slowly changing, riffs remain as important as they ever have and patience will eventually be rewarded, as the listener is pummelled by a leviathan sized riffs that only The Weir can deliver. 

“Detached” CS//DD track listing:

1). Weak with Rage

2). Below the Surface

The Review:

Calgary’s doom/post-metal giants The Weir return with an extremely bleak EP “Detached”. The Weir have taken away the delay guitar effects for a more raw focus that primarily features noise and plodding riffs. This EP is a welcomed introduction to what is likely to be a shift in sound for the band.

The EP opens with “Weak with Rage”; a slow burn of raw emotion that bludgeons the listener with dissonant riffs. The song is purposely slow to an effect; so slow and heavy that it creates this uniquely painful suspension for the listener. Patience will eventually pay off, however, as the listener is pummelled by a leviathan sized riff that only The Weir can deliver. Even though the sound is slowly changing, riffs remain as important as they ever have for this band.  

“Below the Surface” is by far the eeriest track ever produced by the band. The track is a variation on a theme that quickly develops into black metal. The bands mantra of playing slow and low is thrown out on this track. The Weir have taken this opportunity with “Detached” to experiment with other forms of heavy music. It’ll be exciting to hear where these elements are fleshed out on their next release.

“Detached” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Thantifaxath (Toronto, Ontario)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/11/2017

Label: Dark Descent Records

“Void Masquerading as Matter” reaches far beyond the realm of black metal, and into a sound truly of its own. For anyone looking for black metal moving in a progressive direction, this record is a must.

“Void Masquerading as Matter” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Oceans of Screaming Spheres

2). Self Devouring – Womb

3). Cursed Numbers

4). Void Masquerading as Matter

The Review:

Toronto’s secretive black metal super group re-emerge with a 35 minute dissent into dizzying madness. Thantifaxath’s new record, “Void Masquerading as Matter”, takes the foundation of black metal, and pushes it into the furthest reaches of the genre. For those looking for innovation in the black metal genre, look no further than this record.  Taking off right where “Sacred White Noise” left off, Thantifaxath come barrelling out of the gate with blast beats and tremolo picking on “Oceans of Screaming Spheres”.  After a minute and half, however, is where Thantifaxath come into form. Most of the songs start out as a form of black metal, and then morph into another form of experimental dark music. Whether it’s the use of piano on “Oceans of Screaming Spheres”, static noise and strings on “Self Devouring - Womb”, or chamber vocals on “Void Masquerading as Matter”, there is always an element of Thantifaxath pushing the envelope forward.

The music has what is best described as a “slippery” quality to it. With constant ascending and descending pitch and scales, nothing feels stationary on this record. This gives the music a living and organic quality rarely found on today’s robotically precise production methods. “Cursed Numbers” is the best example of this. This song contains the most un-black metal feature possible; a guitar-tapping sequence. This sequence is fluid, and yet never finds the down beat of one. The melody of the song creates an illusion that it is constantly ascending without ever having to come down. “Void Masquerading as Matter” reaches far beyond the realm of black metal, and into a sound truly of its own. For anyone looking for black metal moving in a progressive direction, this record is a must.

“Void Masquerading as Matter” is available  here

Band info: bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Sect – “No Cure for Death”

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/11/2017

Label: Southern Lord Recordings

Sect have set the standard for hardcore music and what it should aspire to in 2017. If you’re looking to heavy music with a message, look no further than “No Cure for Death”.

“No Cure for Death” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Open Grave

2. Day For Night

3. Crocodile Prayers

4. Reality’s Wake

5. Stripes

6. Liberal Arts

7. Born Razed

8. Transaction

9. Least Resistance

10. Avoidance Ritual

The Review:

The hardcore supergroup Sect follow up last year’s self-titled release with a more pissed off/dystopian blast-beat infested “No Cure for Death”. If you’re looking for the sonic equivalent to Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness”, this is the closest thing to it.

The one thing that immediately jumps out off of this record are the blast-beats.

This record is much more concise than its predecessor; nothing goes to waste, and no musical idea overstays its welcome. Even though none of the songs on this record hit the four minute mark, it is very clear that these songs have been carefully crafted for maximum effect and impact.

There are all sorts of riffs on this record. From the Siege-influenced “Stripes”, all the way to the Yautja-like “Reality’s Wake” there is something on here from all spectrums of heavy music. Even when bound to the tonal parameters of the Boss HM2, guitarists Scott Crouse and James Chang are able to employ such a wide range of feel and variety. Like any Chris Colohan record, however, the lyrics are the albums highlight.

Everything from society’s imminent demise with “Open Graves”, to commentary on the education system in “Liberal Arts”, there is not an aspect of North American culture and politics that is left untouched.

Sect have set the standard for hardcore music and what it should aspire to in 2017. If you’re looking to heavy music with a message, look no further than “No Cure for Death”.

“No Cure for Death” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Pale Mare (Toronto, Ontario)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 10/11/2017

Label: Medusa Crush Recordings

For those of you who long for the days of “Blessed Black Wings” era High on Fire, this record is the perfect trip down memory-lane.  If you dig thick and dirty riffs, you’ll dig Pale Mare.

“Pale Mare EP” CS//DD track listing:

1). Descolada

2). Carthage

3). Hoplite

The Review:

Toronto’s Pale Mare has finally released their long awaited self-titled EP. After making a name for themselves locally opening for acts such as Windhand and Weedeater, Pale Mare have unleashed their well-honed brand of sludge metal. For those of you who long for the days of “Blessed Black Wings” era High on Fire, this record is the perfect trip down memory-lane.

The EP comes out of the gate swinging with “Descolada”; a song built upon a heavy riff that would make Matt Pike smile. Where Pale Mare break from the pack, however, is this jazz break they’ve fused into the middle of the song. The clean shimmering guitar chords and wah-tinged bass give them a nuisance and balance not often found in riff-driven music.

 “Carthage” is a straight out banger that page homage to early Baroness EP’s “First” and “Second” while adding their own twists. Luke Roberts’ drum fills on this track are particularly jaw-dropping. Given the fact that he is also the guitarist and main creative force behind Ayahuasca, it begs the question “Is there anything Luke Roberts can’t do?”.

The albums closer “Hoplite” is continuation of all these elements mashed together in one riff-crammed magnum opus. Pale Mare is a throwback to the hey-day of the Savannah sludge metal of the early 2000s, only with a twist. If you dig thick and dirty riffs, you’ll dig Pale Mare.

“Pale Mare EP” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook